BEIJING "PROTEST ZONES" ONLY ON PAPER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 003121

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/14/2028
TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL KOLY CH
SUBJECT: BEIJING "PROTEST ZONES" ONLY ON PAPER

REF: A. A) BEIJING 2865

B. B) BEIJING 3109

C. C) BEIJING 2393

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson. Reasons 1.
4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: PolOffs have observed no protests or
preparations for protests at any of the three
officially-designated "protest zones" established by the
Chinese Government for use during the Olympics. Though the
Public Security Bureau (PSB) refuses to release any
information regarding applications to use the zones,
information obtained from international human rights groups,
media and Embassy contacts indicates that Chinese citizens
applying to protest risk detention and/or removal from
Beijing. END SUMMARY.

Background: "Protest Zones" Established
--------------


2. (U) Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games
(BOCOG) Security Director Liu Shaowu announced on July 23
that Beijing would establish three "demonstration zones"
during the Olympics (ref A). The three zones he announced
are located at World Park (Fengtai District),Zizhuyuan (or
Purple Bamboo) Park (Haidian District) and Ritan (or Temple
of the Sun) Park (Chaoyang District). Liu stated that
protesters would need to apply in advance for permission to
demonstrate in the zones. Chinese and foreign media noted
that demonstration zones were set up at previous Olympic
Games, including Athens and Salt Lake City, as well as in
China during the 1995 UN Women's Conference in Beijing.
Articles in the Chinese media applauded the move as a sign of
China's "openness."

Zones Have Remained Quiet throughout Games
--------------


3. (C) In daily visits since August 4, PolOffs have observed
no protest activity at the three designated "protest zones."
Security personnel and park management have generally either
claimed to be ignorant of the existence of the protest zones
or else provided minimal (and sometimes contradictory)
information when approached by PolOffs. Additionally,
PolOffs noted no preparations for protests at any of the
three parks. World Park Marketing and Publicity Director Liu
Huixiang (strictly protect) informed PolOff on August 5 that
the park would only make arrangements once it received notice
from the PSB that a protest had been approved. Security
personnel at Ritan Park told PolOff on August 13 that no
preparations had been made for demonstrations. Another park
worker told PolOff August 5 that any protests would be
restricted to Ritan's eastern periphery. Park officials have
repeatedly claimed they have received no applications for
protests.

Registering Means Taking a Risk
--------------


4. (C) Applying for permission to demonstrate in the
designated "protest zones" has led to applicants' detention
and/or removal from Beijing, according to international human
rights groups, media and Embassy contacts. Human Rights
Watch reported on August 13 that there have been at least
three instances of Chinese citizens who were either detained
or removed from Beijing after applying to protest during the
Olympics. Additionally, some protesters unable to gain
permission to protest end up in detention after protesting
the denial of protest permission. Shan Chun (protect),a
Beijing resident and former government official whose
application to protest during the Olympics was rejected
twice, told PolOff August 14 that she and her partner were
detained on Tiananmen Square August 11 while protesting the
rejection. Shan said that her partner, Chen Dashan, is still
being held and that she is "very concerned" about his safety.
Shan is particularly angry that the police have provided "no
reason" for rejecting he
r application. "If they do not want us to apply, then they
should not create such policies."


5. (SBU) Post is aware of no individual or group that has
been granted permission to demonstrate in one of the protest
zones. Beijing PSB officers, citing "privacy concerns,"
refused to disclose to PolOff the number of applications they
have received. Asked at the August 13 MFA press briefing by
a foreign media organization to provide the exact number of
people who have applied to protest in any of the three
"protest parks" in Beijing, MFA spokesman Qin Gang said he
does not have specific information or figures (ref B).

BEIJING 00003121 002 OF 002


According to media reports, one of the groups refused
permission to protest is the China Civil Association for the
Protection of the Diaoyu (Senkaku) Islands (zhongguo minjian
baodiao xiehui). PolOff observed the same group holding a
sanctioned protest in front of the Japanese Embassy June 18
(ref C).

Rules Appear Not to Have Changed
--------------


6. (C) An officer surnamed Ma at the Entry and Exit Bureau,
who said his job is to process foreigners' protest
applications, said that the laws, regulations and procedures
for protest applications have not changed at all since the
start of the Olympics. The only difference, he said, is that
any protests approved during the Games could only take place
in one of the three official zones "so as not to affect the
Olympic athletes or other visitors." Ma referred PolOff to
the 1989 Law of the People's Republic of China on Assemblies,
Processions and Demonstrations, saying that all the
procedures currently in use are described in this piece of
legislation. The section of the law that describes factors
for refusing permission for a given protest includes a
stipulation that no demonstration will be allowed that
"rejects the basic principles specified in the Constitution,
harms national unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity
or instigates ethnic separatism." Applications will also be
rejected if there is a be
lief that the demonstration would "directly endanger or
seriously harm public order."

Information Difficult to Obtain
--------------


7. (C) PolOff spoke to multiple PSB departments both in
person and on the phone seeking information on the
application process for protest zones. An officer at Haidian
District PSB surnamed Chen confirmed that Chinese citizens
wishing to apply to protest at Zizhuyuan Park could do so at
that police station, however he "knew nothing about it."
Regarding protests by foreigners, an official at the Beijing
Entry and Exit Bureau told PolOff August 13 that inquiries
regarding the protest zones "must be made in person" at the
Entry and Exit Bureau's "Foreigner Dispute Resolution Desk."
Though the official told PolOff that procedures for protests
had not changed and confirmed that he is charged with
processing foreigners' applications to protest, he said that
he was unable to answer any questions regarding protests and
referred PolOff to the Beijing PSB News Office. An official
at that office instructed PolOff to "use the appropriate
channels" but refused to provide contact information.
RANDT
RANDT